Malaysian Kitchen Insiders Dinner

 A few weeks ago I was asked to be apart of the Malaysian Kitchen Blogger Ambassador Program, an initiative to promote Malaysian cuisine both in and out of the home. I love asian food so I excepted, you might have seen me tweeting #mkinsiders. Over the next couple of months I’ll be going out to dinner and maybe even whipping up a few dishes at home. Needless to say Steve is thrilled about the project because it involves curry, lots and lots of yummy curry. I’m looking forward to the illusive “date nights” on the horizon as well as a few family foodie adventures.

Bloggers from all over the country were selected to participate and the NSW locals were invited to a special dinner to launch the campaign. We headed out to Kaki Lima in Kensington for a lovely long tummy-filling dinner. I wore my new drawcord dress, teal tights, boots, cropped striped cardi and blue rose necklace. My hair is atrocious so I wore it up.

We started off with some sweet sugary drinks, beers and a mixed plate of curry puffs followed by delicious satays, I couldn’t get enough of the sauce. Then they brought out “just a little taste” of Laksa. OH MY!!! The bowl was huge and full of spicy yummy goodness. I ordered the seafood laksa and it did not disappoint. The whole time I was eating it I had an evil laugh in my head thinking of how jealous Steve would be.

 After the entrees they bought out the mains. Everyones eyes (and stomachs) were bulging but we ate it all. There was Kung Pow Chicken, Assam Pedas Fish with Okra, Beef Rendang, lots of steamed rice and something called Heaven Tree.

This is what it looks like. “Just like spinach” I thought, I’m game to try most new things. As I spooned the dark mixture onto my plate it was light like air and crunchy. I put some in my mouth, the texture was kind of like eating confetti, pretty weird but I liked it. It’s actually seaweed… turns out I like seaweed!

We also had a dish brought out called Pasembur which has bean curd, potatoes, coconut and prawn fritters, boiled eggs and cucumber in it. Usually the word “curd” simply puts me off but thats what I signed up for, that’s what the whole thing is about, trying new things.

 After what felt like a million courses we thanked the restaurant and began to stretch out in our seats, to make more room for our tummies when all of a sudden desserts started coming out. I was ready to hold my hand up and admit defeat, surely I couldn’t fit one more bite in… then out came the black sticky rice in a super tiny pot. I’d never had sticky rice, it was salty-sweet and I couldn’t finish it. Then they bought out another dish and everyone groaned happily. It was shaved ice with rosewater syrup, sugar and nuts piled up high like a snow cone. This wasn’t up my alley either but everyone else at the table scooped them empty.

Thanksto the Oglivy team for selecting me to be apart of the Malaysian Kitchen Insiders and for the sweet gifts I got to take home. Steve may or may not have already stained the apron. Adam was one of my favourite Masterchef competitors so it’s really exciting that he’s involved. Oglivy have given me a budget to spend using my special Malaysian Kitchen eftpos card as well as a long list of all my local places I should try and visit. I’m not being paid at all, everything on that card goes straight back into the small family restaurants who love to cook Malaysian. Man I love blogging!